Ashy-headed goose

Chloephaga picta

Grijskopgans / Graukopfgans / Bernache à tête grise

The Ashy-headed goose is a large sheldgoose, which breeds in mountainous areas of southernmost South America andwinters on lowlands just north of its breeding range. They live in Argentina, Chile and is present at the Falkland Islands (Malvinas). Its population is decreasing.

This species has a very large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size may be moderately small to large, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern (IUCN, 2012).

Above: adult pair of Ashy-headed geese (male in front)

Above: adult male Ashy-headed goose

Above: adult male Ashy-headed goose